LightWire also existed, but as the name implied, it was entirely synthetic.Both models and rope masters hated it because it was stiff and tended to stretch.
Lumijute was something else entirely – designed to have the exact look and feel of jute, but also brilliantly light up and stay lit for as long as it received the signal to do so.Anyone shelling out for this stuff would have the cachet of a true enthusiast.
As usual, no-one had any idea how it worked.Callie’s Opti couldn’t detect any Auratomic wire - which probably wouldn’t be flexible enough anyway.Even if the jute fibres were printed rather than grown, she couldn’t understand how they could light up.But that was okay.Because no-one understood anything anymore.They all lived in the shadows of AI creations they couldn’t fathom.
The model stepped forward, turned and placed her elbows behind her back.They were going to start with a TK.The rope master began with a simple single-column tie, around the shoulder, nodome, reverse tension.
Callie only half remembered the terminology, but seeing the quick, efficient movements of the rope master’s hands brought the memories flooding back.Even from here, she could see the perfect tension.The rope master had practiced these ties hundreds, if not thousands of times.Each length of Lumijute bit into the skin with exactly the same amount of force and when she lifted the model from the floor, she hung in perfect balance.Perfectly comfortable.Perfectly helpless.
It was almost too perfect.Callie wondered if the rope master had some sort of tension calculator in her PalmInter.Or maybe she was just that good.People could, theoretically, practice something until their muscles simplyknewhow to do things without thinking, but with implants, why would you?If no-one could tell the difference, what would be the point?
Callie caught her mind racing again and that was the opposite of what she wanted tonight.What Callie wanted was to shut it off.To leave her responsibilities, her job, herselfbehind, at least for a few hours.She gazed at the model, bound and blissfully cared for.Illuminated in a perfectly symmetrical web of luminescent rope, suspended and on display for all to see.What Callie wanted most of all, was to beher.
“Which one are you looking at?”The deep feminine voice came from her left.She turned and saw a tall woman with bright red spikes on her head, wearing a full face mask.“The model or the rope master?”
The Magician
December 31 2267
T
he woman demagged her mask, revealing deep mahogany eyes and olive skin.She towered over Callie and was thin, to the point of being emaciated.Low rise BulitWeave TacPants with a spiked belt, a spiked leather bracer and bright red spiked hair all giving the unified message ofdon’t fuck with me.And all of it was undone by her button nose and the splash of freckles across the bridge.
Callie felt the woman’s finger on her chin, pushing her mouth shut.
“You’re going to catch flies,” she smiled.She didn’t seem shocked at all that Callie had been caught staring, mouth agog.Clearly, she was used to attracting attention.
“You’re very showy.”Callie shifted her stance.
She just laughed.“Does that mean you won’t answer my question?”The way the reflected light caught her dark eyes did things to Callie.
“What’s your name?”Callie deflected.
“Talia.”
Damn her voice was something.Callie wondered if it was DocPod altered.But why would she alter it down?That had never been a trend.
“Callie.”She stuffed her hands in her pockets.Talia’s face lit up.“I was looking at the model,” she confessed, shifting awkwardly.
Talia’s smile widened.“No wonder everyone is after you.”
Callie blushed.Hard.Even in the heat of the dancefloor she could tell her skin had gone up several degrees.
Talia leaned in, as if giving Callie top secret information.“Everyone else in this room wants to be the one holding the rope.They like the control.”
“And you?”Callie felt her voice falter.
Talia gave a half shrug.“Ilovecontrol.I have to admit that I don’t actually have the patience for rope, though.”
Callie tilted her head.“Why are you here then?”
“Because you’re here.”
Callie rolled her eyes.“Cute, but why really?”
Talia was unfazed by the rebuff.“I just wanted to see.It’s also bad luck not to kiss someone on New Years.”
“You’re not attached to anyone else?”
